4 ms·

Honestly I think it's better than nothing. Discrimination like this is usually based on complete ignorance/lack of exposure to different cultures. A course on A

by eric_h 9y ago

Honestly I think it's better than nothing. Discrimination like this is usually based on complete ignorance/lack of exposure to different cultures. A course on Asian cultures may actually have some effect of humanizing the asian people for this particular bigot.

ihsw2 9y ago
Or it might have the opposite effect and further reinforce their lack of tolerance, especially if the course is taught from a position of outright hostility and antagonism rather than purely informational.
whatok 9y ago
I'd agree with the ignorance description but argue that "One word says it all. Asian" was definitely influenced by some sort of exposure to different cultures. I'm not a social scientist but I'd bet good money that someone who is ignorantly informed by their personal experiences like that will probably not find great value in something abstract like a class. Also is the purpose to prevent further illegal discrimination or change her viewpoint? If it's to prevent further illegal discrimination, a larger punitive fine will hammer that point in. If it's to change her viewpoint, being racist is not illegal in the US, at least not yet.
ebfd 9y ago
>Discrimination like this is usually based on complete ignorance/lack of exposure to different cultures. Do people from heavily black areas (e.g. Memphis, TN or Birmingham, AL) tend to be less racist than those from homogeneously white areas? (e.g. Portland, OR or Montpelier, VT)?
jasode 9y ago
>Honestly I think it's better than nothing. Actually, I think the forced class makes the situation worse. My life experiences tells me classes and other attempts at "re-education" only hardens the attitudes for hatred and discrimination. For a person to change their racism/homophobia, it requires interaction with another human that triggers an emotional component. For example, a person who despises gays has a child grow up to be gay which changes their mind. Or a somebody who hates blacks later ends up stuck in the front line of a war with other blacks watching each others' backs and it eliminates (or lessens) the prejudice. It doesn't mean that positive human interactions will always "cure" everyone but it seems to be more effective than classes. Classes are more useful for cultural/etiquette topics (e.g. how to hold business cards with 2 hands in Japan).
- eric_h 9y ago
  There's a very good chance you're correct, of course. I suppose my comment was just my general hopeful optimism coming out. Really, though, how does one actually "deprogram" someone with opinions like this? Can it actually be done? Casual racists are a toxic population whose opinions and behaviors in favor of said racism bring no value to society. How on earth do we eliminate it? I used to think that the steamroller of progress and information would gradually eliminate racism and sexism and denial of science and logic as older generations died out, but the rise of the next generation of racists and MRAs and flat earthers seems to be a fairly strong counterpoint to that. I fear for the future of humanity.

by eric_h 9y ago

ihsw2 9y ago

Or it might have the opposite effect and further reinforce their lack of tolerance, especially if the course is taught from a position of outright hostility and antagonism rather than purely informational.

whatok 9y ago

I'd agree with the ignorance description but argue that "One word says it all. Asian" was definitely influenced by some sort of exposure to different cultures. I'm not a social scientist but I'd bet good money that someone who is ignorantly informed by their personal experiences like that will probably not find great value in something abstract like a class. Also is the purpose to prevent further illegal discrimination or change her viewpoint? If it's to prevent further illegal discrimination, a larger punitive fine will hammer that point in. If it's to change her viewpoint, being racist is not illegal in the US, at least not yet.

ebfd 9y ago

>Discrimination like this is usually based on complete ignorance/lack of exposure to different cultures. Do people from heavily black areas (e.g. Memphis, TN or Birmingham, AL) tend to be less racist than those from homogeneously white areas? (e.g. Portland, OR or Montpelier, VT)?

jasode 9y ago

>Honestly I think it's better than nothing. Actually, I think the forced class makes the situation worse. My life experiences tells me classes and other attempts at "re-education" only hardens the attitudes for hatred and discrimination. For a person to change their racism/homophobia, it requires interaction with another human that triggers an emotional component. For example, a person who despises gays has a child grow up to be gay which changes their mind. Or a somebody who hates blacks later ends up stuck in the front line of a war with other blacks watching each others' backs and it eliminates (or lessens) the prejudice. It doesn't mean that positive human interactions will always "cure" everyone but it seems to be more effective than classes. Classes are more useful for cultural/etiquette topics (e.g. how to hold business cards with 2 hands in Japan).

eric_h 9y ago
There's a very good chance you're correct, of course. I suppose my comment was just my general hopeful optimism coming out. Really, though, how does one actually "deprogram" someone with opinions like this? Can it actually be done? Casual racists are a toxic population whose opinions and behaviors in favor of said racism bring no value to society. How on earth do we eliminate it? I used to think that the steamroller of progress and information would gradually eliminate racism and sexism and denial of science and logic as older generations died out, but the rise of the next generation of racists and MRAs and flat earthers seems to be a fairly strong counterpoint to that. I fear for the future of humanity.